Coupler



July 9, 1935. x rE. P. KINNE 2,007,450

COUPLER Filed June 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Julyl 9, 1935 Y Yl Y i 2,067,450

UNITED STATES smear oFFlc-E COUPLER Edmund P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio,assigner tov American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofNew Jersey i Application June 17, 1931, SerialNo. 545,063

' 24 Claims. (ol. 21e- 151) This invention pertains to coupler devices,and gathering range of Couplers, that iS, the ability more particularlyto a'formation of coupler con- 0f the Contour of a Coupler to Dull the@Ouplel tours, such as the A. R. A. standard No. IB conllead of allOpposing 001113191 Wl'lelfl the Same "are tour, and the like.oir-center. This increased gathering range is Among the objects of thepresent invention is a very desirable feature. 5

to provide a coupler contour adapted to eiect With these and variousother objects in view, well dened results not obtainable with theexthainveltiOIl may COnSiSt 0f Certain 11G-Vel fea` sting couplercontours and heretofore unknown. tures 0f CODStluCtiGn and Operation, aSWill be At the present time the existing contour lines more fullydeslibd and particularly pointed out l0 are determined preliminarily bystandard requirein the specication, drawings and claims appendl0 mentsas to the desired horizontal and vertical ed hereto. l angling of thecouplers. In the drawings, which illustrate an embodi- Under existingpractice, however, it hasbeen ment of the device and wherein likereference found, that although the standard vertical ancharacters areused to designate like Dartsgling between couplers is substantiallyideal for Figure l is a fragmentary top Plan View 0f a 15 practicalpurposes, the coupler contour provided coupler embodying the invention,the dotted lines for effecting such results leads to undesirable freeindicating the corresponding A. R. A. contour; slack between cooperatingcouplers, which slack, Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in horizontal in atrain of substantialL length and comprising a CIOSS-SSCtOIl takenSubStantially through 'the 2o large number of cars, is objectionable,undesirlongitudinal center line of adjacent couplers and 2o able anduncontrollable, showing the relation between the same in buff;

. It is therefore an object of the present inven- Figure 3 is afragmentary view in horizontal tion to provide novel means fordecreasing the Cross-Section taken Substantially tlllolilrll the .amount0f free Slack, yet at the Same time mainlongitudinal center line ofadjacent couplers and' taining the acceptable standard angling betweenShowing the relation between thesame in maxi- 25 couplers.v mumhorizontal angling; and

In an embodiment selected to illustrate the Figure l is a sectionalelevation taken substaninvention, such results are effected by providingtially in the plane as indicated by the line lli-4 tapered portions onthe front face of the knuckle, of Figure 2, SllOWiIlg the Couplers inVeIltCally such tapered portions being adapted to cooperate angledposition; 30 with the face of an adjacent couplerhead, con- Figure 5 isa fragmentary top plan View of a. structed in accordance with thepresent invencoupler embodying a modification of the intion, forproviding the desired vertical angling. vention; y

The invention comprehends the idea of pro- Figure 6 is a fragmentarytopplan view of still viding a contour for the face of a coupler headanother embodiment disclosingV the present i11- 35 adapted to cooperatewith the above described vcntion; and knuckle, wherein thecross-sectional area of the Figures 7 to 9 inclusive are fragmentary topcoupler face is increased over existing coupler plan views of twoopposing couplers made in acheads. The tightening of thel coupler vfaceconcordance with Figure l of the drawings, distour, heretofore desiredbut unobtainable, is ef` closing the Same in ValiOU-S DGStiOllS When a40 fected in the present disclosure, and not only coupling is effectedbetween the two in oiset results in increasing the strength of thecoupler relation. head, but also in cooperating relation with theReferring rst of all to the contour as shown present improved knuckle,reduces the free slack. in VFigure l, this contour is laid off from theIt has also been found that under maximum longitudinal center line y-yof the coupler and 45 horizontal angling of couplers the now standthetransverse base line x-m- The'contour of ard requirement ofapproximately 15% degrees is the knuckle is substantially that of thestandard excessive and that from l0 to 12 degrees is quite A. R.v A.type of knuckle. The A. R. A. coupler suicient. contour referred to inthis speciiication and the Y The present invention thereforecontemplates claims is the No. lil contour as shown in Fig. 50

the idea of providing continuity of the above 2528 on page 886 of theCar Builders Cyclopedia, referred to contour of the coupler -facevtoeffect 1931 edition. The coupler head li] is dened a tightening of thecontour controlling horisubstantially by the arc l2 merging into theVarc zontal angling of the couplers. This novel and I4, in turn merginginto the arc I6, it being deimproved contour .results in increasing thesired to provide additional metal on the stmld- 55;

ard A. R. A. contour shown in the dotted lines I8, say of an inch on theface of the coupler, though it is to be understood that any amount maybe added. This amount, as shown, is dened by the line 20 merging intothe curve 22, 24, I6, it being seen that the line I8 indicating thestandard A. R. A. coupler contour merges into acurve 2S struck fromsubstantially the same radius as the curve 22, the curve 26 merging intoa curve 28 struck with substantially the Same radius as curve 24, thecurves 24 and 28y both merging into curve I6.

The face I8 of the A. R. A. type of coupler merges into curves 30 and 32terminating in the end 34 disposed below the base line :1c-, thetermination of the guard arrn determining the gathering range of thecoupler. The face 20 of the improved coupler merges into the compoundcurve 36, 38, 40, it being seen that the curve 48 is a reverse curvefrom that shown at 38. The curve 40 crosses the a: axis at substantiallythe same distance from the y axis as the point 42 is with reference tothe y axis and terminates above the :c axis and at a greater distancefrom the y axis. It may thus be said that the improved contour istighter at similar points than the standard A. R. A. contour. It will beseen that the compound curve 38, 40 may follow the contour 32, it beingonly necessary that the curve t the corresponding contour of the ear andknuckle of the adjacent coupler as shown in Figure 3 when the couplersare angled horizontally. 'Ihe gathering range of the improved coupler isincreased by carrying the curve 40 to a point 44 above the --x axis tothe end 46 of the guard arm.

The knuckle 48 is pivoted substantially at the point 50 to the ears ofthe coupler, and this knuckle follows substantially the contour of thatof the standard A. R. A. type of coupler. The improved type of knuckle,however, while following the plane of the standard A. R. A. type ofknuckle, is beveled at 54 and 5S with substantially a 4-40' taper, thewidth of the bevel being substantially the same as the amount of metaladded to the face of the coupler. The beveled front face of the knuckleis provided so that the improved coupler may angle verticallysubstantially the same amount as the standard A. R. A. coupler, eventhough additional metal is added to the face of the coupler, that is,the bevel compensates for the addition of metal to the face of thecoupler.

In operation of this type of coupler, it will be appreciated that thegathering range is materially increased, and additionally, there is amaterial decrease of the free slack defined between couplers, shown at58 in Figure 2. That is, in buff the distance between the pulling facesof adjacent knuckles is decreased, this decrease of slack materiallydecreasing the strain put on the parts of the coupler when assuming anormal or pulling position, especially when it is appreciated that theslack is multiplied ina long train of cars.

As previously indicated, the new contour for the guard arm is disposednearer the knuckle, thus decreasing the gauge distance and also extendsforwardly beyondthe corresponding standard A. R. A. contour. Thedecrease in the shortest distance between the guard arm and knuckle whenthe knuckle is closed is such a minimum as will permit normal operationof the coupler and maintain the coupler operative notwithstanding theincrease of such distance incident to the normal operation and limit ofuse of the coupler.

The new contour for the guard arm increases the gathering range of thecoupler, i. e., the contour increases the capacity of the coupler ordrawing a mating coupler from an oiset position to a central positionfor effecting locking engagement of Vthe knuckles of the opposingcouplers, this new contour also tending to move a mating knuckle intoopen position upon its initial engagement therewith and tending tomaintain said open position during coupling until the knuckles are movedinto interlocking relation.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 disclose successive positions of the opposingcouplers |00 and |02 having the guard arms |04, IDB and the knuckles|08, H8, respectively, when a coupling is to be effected with the sameoffset a distance A. As shown in Figure 7, the knuckle |08 is in itsnormal full opened position and contacts guard arm |05 at a point I I2which is outside the pivot center I I4 for knuckle |08 and therefore theforce exerted in the direction of line IIS has a tendency to causeoutward rotation of' the knuckle while wedging action due to'the angularcontact at point I I2 tends to cause a partial closing rotation of theknuckle I 08 opposing the opening force represented by line IIS untilthe knuckle has reached a partial closed position as shown in Figure 8.

After reaching the position shown in Figure 8, the wedging actioncausing inward rotation of the knuckle is equalized by the force I I6tending to hold the knuckle |08 open, which latter force is representedin part by the frictional resistance at contact point II8. Inasmuch asthe wedging action at point II8 no longer causes rotation of the knuckle|08, the same acts to draw the entire coupler |00 over, therebydecreasing the distance A between the couplers to the distance B shownin Figure 9. At this time knuckle |58 remains open sufficiently so as topass inside o the nose of knuckle III), as at |20, to effect lockingengagement of the two knuckles. It is to be observed that during theentire coupling operation, the distance between couplers has beenreduced to B, while the distance through which the force represented byline IIS passes outside the pivot point I I4 of knuckle |08 has beenincreased corresponding to C, thereby increasing the tendency to holdknuckle |08 open to prevent the same from closing without effectingengagement with knuckle I I0.

Figure 7 shows the opposing couplers apart a distance A which issubstantially a maximum whereby a coupling may be effected for the givencontour cf the guard arms disclosed and for a corresponding distanceapart for couplers with the standard A. R. A. contours, a couplingthereof cannot be effected under similar conditions.

Referring to Figure 3, the position of the parts is shown when a pair ofcouplers is angled horizontally. When this occurs the contour 40 iitsthe contour I2 of the ear of the adjacent coupler, and also the contourof the knuckle of the adjacent coupler.

In operation of a train, adjacent couplers will, due to different levelsof adjacent cars in going up grades, etc., assume diiferent verticalpositions F with respect to each other. In couplers now in use verticalangling of the couplers causes the knuckles to contact each other, andthe adjacent heads at points, causing excessive wear at a plurality ofpoints. That is, the knuckles will contact at points 6U, such as shown.in the dotted line positions of lligureY d,` these dotted. linepositions showing thel contours of standard A. R; A. parts; In order-.toprovide for vertical angling' in the improved type of coupler,` and alsoto prevent excessive wear at a-pl'urality of points, the 'nevels 54 and55 are provided` which will contact the face substantially uniformlywhen` the knuckles are in their maximum angling position, the samehaving substantial contact as at B2, when in this position.`

In Figure 5 of the drawings, the disclosed contour of the coupler issuchas to decrease the free slack and horizontal angling betweenopposing connecter couplers. This coupler varies from the previouslydescribed embodiment ofthe present invention, in that the contour 20a,corresponding to the contour shown in Figure l of the drawings, mergesat a point 63 with the contour 32a or" the guard arm of the standard A.R. A. coupler head. It will be seen that the distance between the noseofthe knuckle andthe face of the coupler head is decreased in accordancewith 'the above disclosure for decreasing th free slack.

In order to decrease the horizontal angling between couplers, the heelof the knuckle is extended from the line 64 of the old contour to lineG5. The extension of' the heel in this manner compensates for themodication of the contour of the coupler head, wherein the line 20amerges at'the point 63. This increase in the size of the knuckle heel issubstantially equal to that increase to the guard arm shown in Figure lof the drawings.

In Figure 6 ofthe drawings, a still further modication of the presentinvention is disclosed for effectively reducing free slack andhorizontal angling between couplers. This is effected by extending thecontour vline of the bearing surface of the knuckle nose from 66 to 6l,thereby not only decreasing the distance between thenose of the couplerand face of the coupler head-but likewise the gauge distance between theYknuckle nose and guard arm of Ythe coupler head.

It is to be understood that I do not wishto be limited by the exactembodiment 'of the device shown, whichA is'merely by way of illustrationand not limitatiomas various and other forms of the device will ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. i

I claim:

l'. In a coupler construction, the combinationof a coupler head, aknuckle, said coupler head having a iront face normally spaced from saidknuckle to permit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatorymovement and vertical angling of a mating Vknuckle between said face andsaid first-mentioned knuckle, and meansproviding 'forV an increasedamount of vertical angling. p

2. In a coupler construction, the combination of a coupler head, aknuckle, said coupler head having a front face normally spaced from saidknuckle to permit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatiorymovement Vand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face andsaidrst-.mentioned knuckle, and means on the'iace engaging portion ofthe knuckle to permit anV increased amount of vertical angling.

3. In. a coupler construction, lthe combination of a coupler head, aknuckle, said coupler headv having a front face normally spaced fromsaid knuckle to permit a limited` amount of relative.

longitudinal` translatory movement and vertical angling oa matingknuckle between said face andi said rst-mentioned knuckle, said knucklehaving portions of the face engaging portion thereof. angular-lydisposed in relation tothe plane of the pulling face so as to permit anincreased amount of vertical angling.

5. In a coupler arrangement, the combination of opposing couplers eachhavingv a coupler head and: knuckle adapted to be disposed in engagingrelation, each of said couplers being'provided with a head having afront face normally spaced from the knucklethereof to permit a limitedamount of reltiave longitudinal translatory movement and verticalangling between said opposing couplers, and means providing for anincreased amount of vertical angling between said couplers.

6. In a coupler arrangement, the combination of opposing couplers eachhaving'a coupler head and knuckle adapted to be disposed in engaginrelation, each of said couplers being provided with a head having afront face normally spaced from the knuckle thereof to permit a limitedamount of relative longitudinal translatory movement and verticalangling between said opposing couplers, and means on the faceengagingportion ofthe knuckles to permit an increased amount of vertical anglingbetween said couplers.

7. In a coupler arrangement, the combination of opposing couplers eachhaving a coupler head and knuckle adapted to be disposed in engagingrelation, each of said couplers being provided with a head havingv afront face normally spaced from the knuckle thereof to permit a limitedamount of relative longitudinal translatory movement and verticalangling between said opposing couplers, said knuckles having portions ofthe face engaging portion thereof so disposed as to permit an increasedamount of vertical angling between said couplers.

8. Ina coupler arrangement, the combination of opposing couplers eachhaving a coupler head and knuckle adapted to be disposed in engaginglrelation, each of said couplers being provided with a head having afront face normally spaced from the knuckle thereof Vto'permit a limitedamount of relative longitudinal translatory movement and verticalangling between said opposing couplers, said knuckles having portions ofthe face engaging portion thereof angularly disposed in relation to theplane of the pulling face so as to permit an increased amount ofvertical angling between said couplers.

9. In a coupler arrangement, the combination ofY opposing couplers`each* having a, coupler head disposed as to provide for said increasedamount of angling between said couplers.

l0. In a coupler arrangement, the combination of opposing couplers eachhaving a coupler head and knuckle provided with a contour adapted toprovide a limited amount of slack therebetween throughout the centralhorizontal portions thereof and an increased amount of slack at the topand bottom thereof of an extent sufficient to provide increased verticalangling therebetween, said coupler knuckles having their buiiing faceformed with portions inclined in respect to the plane of their pullingface and extending toward the top and bottom thereof to provide for saidincreased amount of angling between said couplers.

11. In a car coupler comprising a coupler head, a knuckle pivotedthereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, the shortestdistance between said knuckle when the knuckle is closed and said guardarm being such a minimum as will permit normal operation of the couplerand maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increase of suchdistance incident to the normal operation and limit of use of thecoupler.

l2. In. a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, theshortest distance between said knuckle when the knuckle is closed andsaid guard arm being such a minimum as will permit normal operation ofthe coupler and maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding theincrease of such distance incident to the normal operation and limit ofuse of the coupler, said coupler head having a front face normallyspaced from said knuckle to permit a limited amount of relativelongitudinal translatory movement and vertical angling of a matingknuckle between said face and said firstmentioned knuckle, and meansproviding for an increased amount of vertical angling.

13. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between lsaid face and saidfirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm at its end being suchand so arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock.

14, In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidrst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm at its end being suchand so arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock.

15. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front 'face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidfirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, ythe contour of said guard arm outwardly of said frontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation to the first-mentioned curve anda reverse curve, the contour of said guard arm at its end being such andso arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating, knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock.

16. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidfirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm outwardly of said frontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation to the firstmentioned curve anda reverse curve, the contour of said guard arm at its end being such andso arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock.

17. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidfirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm at its end being suchand so arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock, said guard arm contour being so disposed that the shortestdistance between said knuckle when the knuckle is closed and said guardarm being such a minimum as will permit normal operation of the couplerand maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increase of suchdistance incident to the normal operation and limit of use of thecoupler.

18. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidfirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm outwardly of said frontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation to the Erst-mentioned curve anda reverse curve, the contour of said guard arm at its end being such andso arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles are disposed relative to one anotherto interlock, said guard arm contour being so disposed that the shortestdistance between said knuckle when the knuckle is closed and said guardarm b-eing such a minimum as will permit normal operation of the couplerand maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increase of suchdistance incident to the normal operation and limit of use of thecoupler.

19. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a. guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, thecontour of said guard arm at its end being such and so arranged relativeto a mating knuckle, in open position, that moving engagementtherebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle in said positionuntil said knuckles are disposed relative to one another to interlock,said guard arm con-v tour being so disposed that the shortest distancebetween said knuckle when the knuckle is closed and said guard arm beingsuch a minimum as will permit normal operation of the coupler andmaintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increase of suchdistance incident to the normal operation and limit of use of thecoupler.

20. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard varm on said head opposite said knuckle, the

contour of said guard arm outwardly of the front face ci said couplerhead comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection with large radius with relation to the rstmentioned curve anda reverse curve, the contour of said guard arm at its end being such andso arranged relative to a mating knuckle in open position, that movingengagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle in saidposition until said knuckles are disposed relative to one another tointerlock, said guard arm contour being so disposed that the shortestdistance between said knuckle when the knuckle is closed and said guardarm being such a minimum as will permitnormal operation of the couplerand maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increase of suchdistance incident to the normal operation and limit of use of thecoup-ler.

21. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite saidrknuckle, thecontour of said guard armoutwardlv of the front face of said couplerhead comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection with large radius with relation to the rstmentioned curve anda reverse curve, said guard arm contour being so disposed that theshortest distance between said knuckle'when the knuckle is closed andsaid guard arm is such a minimum as will permit normal operation of thecoupler and maintain said coupler operative notwithstanding the increaseof such distance incident to the normal operation and limit of use ofthe coupler.y y

' 22. In a car coupler, the combination of a coup-ler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a iront face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said ace and saidrst-mentioned knuckle, meansproviding for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm outwardly of said frontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation tothe rst-mentioned curvel and areverse curve, the shortest distance between said knuckle when theknuckle is closed and said guard arm being such a minimum as will permitnormal operation of the coupler and maintain said coupler operativenotwithstanding the increase of such distance incident to the normaloperation and limit of use of the coupler.

23. In a car coupler, the combination of a coup-ler head, aV knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoupler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limited amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said iace and saidinst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm outwardly of said irontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation to the rstmentioned curve and areverse curve.

24. In a car coupler, the combination of a coupler head, a knucklepivoted thereto, a guard arm on said head opposite said knuckle, saidcoup-ler head having a front face normally spaced from said knuckle topermit a limit-ed amount of relative longitudinal translatory movementand vertical angling of a mating knuckle between said face and saidiirst-mentioned knuckle, means providing for an increased amount ofvertical angling, the contour of said guard arm outwardly of said frontface comprising a curve merging into a second curve in the samedirection of large radius with relation to the firstmentioned curve anda reverse curve, the contour of said guard arm at its end being such andso arranged relative to said mating knuckle, in open position, thatmoving engagement therebetween tends to maintain said mating knuckle insaid position until said knuckles 'are disposed relative to one another`to interlock.

EDMUND P. KINNE.

